A Victoria Police operation is targeting roads in Moorabool to reduce road trauma.
Operation Cosmo will see police highly visible and enforcing on roads until the end of October.
Police will be targeting major highways and arterial roads that run through Moorabool, Golden Plains and Hepburn and will be on the lookout for speeding and distracted drivers.
Trentham Senior Constable Jason Allison said the operation was an effort to make roads in the area safer for commuters and prevent more tragedies.
“This part of the state has experienced a significant amount of road trauma, with 13 lives lost last year and a further nine to date in 2024,” he said.
“We’re making road policing a priority throughout these three shires to deter and detect any driving behaviour that puts road users at risk of being involved in a serious injury or fatal collision.”
Senior Constable Allison said speeding was a particular issue in the region and stressed the danger it posed to motorists.
“There are several major highways and arterials throughout these shires that have 80-100km/h speed limits, and yet we continue to catch motorists travelling well over this.”
“Travelling at excessive or inappropriate speeds puts you and everyone else on the road in danger of being in a collision, so speeding will be a major focus throughout this operation.”
In July alone, police have detected more than 20 speeding offences and impounded two vehicles.
One drink driver allegedly blew more than double the legal limit at 0.131 blood alcohol limit.
Drug and alcohol testing will also be a focus as police look to nab impaired drivers, who pose a serious threat to themselves and other motorists.
Deaths in Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Clunes, Denver, Stonehaven and Bannockburn have taken the road toll to nine across the three municipalities.
This time last year, there were five deaths, which became 13 by the end the year.
Of those that have died so far this year, three were motorcyclists involved in fatal collisions while travelling on the Western Freeway.
